Never give your credit card number over the phone unless you make the call.

Review a copy of your credit report at least once a year.

Shred documents with personal identifying information.

About the Crime

Identity theft occurs when someone appropriates another persons personal information without their knowledge to commit theft or fraud. Identity theft is a vehicle for perpetrating other types of fraud schemes. Typically, the victim is led to believe they are divulging sensitive personal information to a legitimate business, sometimes as a response to an email solicitation to update billing or membership information, or as an application to a fraudulent Internet job posting.